项庄舞剑 xiàng zhuāng wǔ jiàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liu2 Bang1] (idiom, refers to plot to kill Liu Bang during Feast at Hongmen 鴻門宴|鸿门宴[Hong2 men2 Yan4] in 206 BC)
  2. fig. an elaborate deception hiding malicious intent

CHARACTERS

项 xiàng
HSK 5
neck, nape of neck; sum; funds
庄 zhuāng
HSK 6
village, hamlet; villa, manor
舞 wǔ
HSK 2
dance, posture, prance; brandish
剑 jiàn
HSK 6
sword, dagger, saber